PART 1 MS. RHODALENE AIDOO

INTRODUCTION Career is one of the commonest words to students of all levels including primary school children. This is evident in the expression ‘my future career’ which is common among students. Enter a primary class and ask at random ‘what is your future career’ and you will be surprised by what answers pupils will give: I want to be a teacher, lawyer, doctor, pilot, driver, musician, banker and the like without knowing what goes into it.

WHAT IS CAREER? A person’s lifetime sequence of occupations, activities, responsibilities and services performed. Examples of career;

FASHION DESIGNING

CATERING AND HOSPITALITY

MUSIC

TEACHING

Medical Doctor

Nursing

CAREER CHOICE It is an interdisciplinary curriculum that engages students and teachers in an interactive learning process, helping them develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to successfully; Examine their own life Explore and evaluate a wide range of education and career options, and Make reasoned and researched goals for their future

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A CAREER.

Personality Interest and capabilities Intellectual ability Self-concept Values Role models

Sexwork-role differentiation, Material benefits The media Personal aptitudes,

Chance factors; This includes family circumstances (death of parents, physical, and economic disability of parents), poor performance or failure in exams, scholarships and grants to students.

It is therefore the role of students, parents, schools, various stakeholders and the entire society to be aware of these factors in order to help choose an appropriate career for students. The internet, media, employers, and workers can serve as sources of information

SOME BENEFITS OF BEING ON A WISE CAREER PATH.

It helps the individual to have the knowledge of various career opportunities. It helps in decisions making: through career planning one is able to select a career which is suitable to his personality, preference, family environment, scope for self- development etc.

It promotes job satisfaction It enhances employee commitment and creates a sense of belongingness. It improves employee's performance on the job by tapping their potential abilities and stimulating their personal growth.

Helps the individual to have a broader skill base. One will have identified and learned the skills necessary to make him or her more attractive to a wider range of employers. Helps the individual to make logical job transitions. One will know what skills and responsibilities to look for in the next job.

IMPLICATIONS OF NOT BEING ON A WISE CAREER PATH

Low self-esteem, Job dissatisfaction, Failures in life and even to the extreme it can lead one into committing suicide.

PART 2

HOW CAN A STUDENT COME BY A WISE CAREER CHOICE?

Self Assessment Who am I? Gathering information about oneself. Students should understand themselves very well, their capabilities, interest, aptitudes, work related values etc.

One needs to learn about job markets and opportunities available. Individuals must be aware of the nature of the occupations (i.e. hazards, risks, remuneration and opportunities for future enhancement), the educational factors (i.e. which subject goes with what occupation), professional and other academic requirements needed for the various jobs. Career exploration What do I want?

Matching traits to the explored career What am I capable of doing? The career choice should be congruent to the personality characteristics.

Action How do I get it? There should be a serious continuous career planning right from the onset. The student needs to identify their goals and set appropriate objectives. Students should constantly seek career counseling from their school or district Guidance and counseling coordinators. Select a role model but in consultation with parents and the school counselor.

THE ROLE OF VARIOUS AGENTS IN THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS.

THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION Ensure the availability of a school counselor In collaboration with the School Counselor, the administration should provide an appraisal service to assess fresh students in order to place them in the appropriate programs. Make available fund for the procurement of logistics necessary for the proper implementation of Guidance and Counselling in the school.

THE ROLE OF TEACHERS Serve on the school guidance committee. Help to appraise students’ characteristics for purposes of adjustment and placement under the supervision of the counselor.

Assist in identifying the problems of students and referring such problems to the counselor. Help the counselor to study and diagnose the problems of students.

Assist counselor to gather and collate data for the cumulative records of students. Arrange special guidance and remediation programs for students.

THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR Planning guidance programs Counselling Pupil or student appraisal Education and Occupational planning

Referral work Consultation with parents Placement

Role of Parents in Career Planning It is the duty of parents to provide all opportunities and facilities necessary for the children to join a good college or vocational course to pursue their dreams. If the children have any special talents, then parents can encourage them to take special training necessary to develop better skills so that they can channel their special talents into successful careers.

Parents can provide financial assistance for establishing the guidance program PTA members can made students ’ undesirable behavior in the community known to the counselor Parents can serve as resource persons for giving talks to students

Linking the school staff with agencies or institutions in the community which can give useful services to promote the school guidance programme. Parents can encourage their children to make some tests online for career guidance.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, what the various agents must know are that; Career choice making is a lifelong process and therefore should be made wisely Job satisfaction and security should be sought for and not prestige and high salaries

There should be a complete congruence between the personality characteristics of an individual and his or her career Parents should not live their lives through their children Though a student can share his or her career related problems, the base line remains that peers are not experts in career counselling.

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